Plus, email as turn-based combat (which is really just regular email).
Welcome to our latest roundup of what's going on in the indie game space. As always, we're here to tell you about a bunch of new games you can check out this weekend. I was even able to set my beloved Poinpy aside for long enough to try one. Expect some news on upcoming games as well.
There are so many neat-looking games out this week. I'll keep this intro relatively brief so I can squeeze more in.
There was some intriguing news from The Video Game History Foundation this week. The organization unveiled a collection of materials from decades of E3, including flyers, press kits, panel transcripts and videos from the event's first few years, long before the press conferences streamed live over the internet. Those videos include the only-known footage of the Sega Saturn's reveal and Sony announcing the price of the original PlayStation (both from the 1995 edition).
This isn't necessarily directly related to indie games, though some are mentioned in the E3 materials. I just find this all fascinating. It's important to preserve this important chunk of video game history. Plus, it's wild how low-key Sony's 1995 E3 press conference was compared with the splashy productions of modern video game events.
Developer: Team Spino Publishers: Team Spino, Boltray Games Platform: Steam (Windows; playable on Steam Deck) Price: Usually $20, with a 10 percent discount until July 30
A pair of comments on a Reddit thread for this trailer sums up just why video games are the best. "This looks stupid as all f***," one user said. In a reply, another wrote "Dude I know right, it's awesome." Love that.
Dinoblade began life as a meme. It has its roots in a short animation that Jean Nguyen, a senior animator for Sucker Punch, created of a Spinosaurus delivering a devastating combo with a sword that's not unlike the one Cloud uses in Final Fantasy VII. Nguyen shared the clip on Twitter/X in 2022. It blew up, and Nguyen decided to make a full game.
Spinosaurus full combo attack animation pic.twitter.com/i1KmyAmtIZ
Dinoblade is an action RPG that casts you in the role of said Spinosaurus with a sword in its gob. It sets out to prevent the extinction of its species (I wonder how that'll ultimately pan out?). Enemy dinosaurs wield weapons, and you can summon the souls of vanquished bosses to help you out in combat.
The general consensus seems to be that Dinoblade is both janky and fun, and that it has slick combat. At a time when the market is flooded with Soulslikes, it's refreshing to see one with such a bizarre concept, especially given that it seems to sort of work. My only complaint, without actually having played the game yet, is that I cannot really fathom why it isn't called Dinosword.
Developer: Whetstone Games Publisher: Pantaloon Platform: Steam (Windows) Price: Usually $12, with a 10 percent discount until August 1
While playing Offbeat, I quickly realized I'd forgotten how to actually make music outside of fiddling around with a guitar. I took keyboard lessons as a kid but didn't stick with it. I don't remember scales or anything like that. Fortunately, you don't have to be a technically great composer to enjoy this music creation game, as long as you meet your clients' briefs. (That said, one of the goals the game sets you is to "get good at writing music.")
After you receive a four-track sequencer from your uncle, you start making music using a toy keyboard that can make cat sounds. As you make jingles and songs for clients, you'll receive cash that you can use to buy more funky instruments, such as a singing gnome, and upgrade them.
I feel like I'm learning a little about music production and programming while playing Offbeat, even if the most accomplished thing I've done so far is peck out a version of the intro to "Welcome to the Black Parade." My favorite aspect of Offbeat is that you're making actual music. Your creations are saved as WAV files and you can do whatever you like with them (as long as they're original tunes, I wager).
Offbeat is expected to be in early access for between six and eight months. The current version has two chapters and seven items with which you can make music. The three-person team at Whetstone Games plans to add more tasks, instruments and other features each month during the early access period.
Developer: Emeteria Publisher: New Tales Platforms: Steam (Windows), Epic Games Store. Coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S later this year Price: Usually $20, with a 10 percent discount until August 2
At first glance, Fading Echo reminds me a bit of last year's Eternal Strands, since both lean heavily on elemental abilities. You play as a young hero named One, who is on a mission to stop something called the Paradox corruption from destroying a desert planet.
One can manipulate water and transition between liquid, gas and solid states. She can use this power to navigate environments and set off chain reactions that can involve lava, toxic waste and the corruption itself.
I'm into the art style of Fading Echo. The game is fully voiced in English and there's support for subtitles in nine languages. The cast is pretty strong here. Samantha Béart (who played Karlach in Baldur's Gate 3) voices One. Well-known performers such as Laura Bailey and Matt Mercer have roles too.
Developer: Attu Games Publishers: Attu Games, Aurakenn Games Platform: Steam (Windows). Coming to consoles "as soon as possible." Price: Usually $20, with a 10 percent discount until July 28
Speaking of games with pretty art, Scarlet Deer Inn absolutely fits into that category. Attu Games (a husband-and-wife team) used physical embroidery and hand-painted backgrounds to create the visuals of this adventure platformer. It describes the game as a "dark medieval folk tale" set in a village with hidden secrets. As with many great stories, Scarlet Deer Inn sends a normal person on an extraordinary adventure.
It seems to be a fairly short game, which I always appreciate. While looking for a trailer, I saw playthrough videos pop up with runtimes of between 1.5 and 2.5 hours. Also, Attu says that while Valve has not yet officially verified Scarlet Deer Inn for its handheld system, the game "works great on Steam Deck."
Developer/publisher: Adventure Works Platform: Steam (Windows, Mac, SteamOS/Linux). Coming to PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 later Price: Usually $20, with a 10 percent discount until July 29
I'm a sucker for a sprawling adventure, and what could possibly be a grander adventure than one that takes you through time and space. Those are, like, all of the dimensions!
It's not exactly hard to imagine what might have inspired Lifted, in which you play as a reluctant adventurer whose companion is an older man with white hair and a time machine. Said professor is on a mission to woo a history teacher, and he recruits the younger Ari to do much of the running, platforming and puzzle solving.
Again, Lifted seems to be a fairly short game. It clocks in at three hours or so, according to reviewers. I'm not complaining about that. This might be as close as we get to another Back to the Future project anytime soon and I look forward to playing it.
Developer/publisher: Paper Cult Platforms: Steam (Windows; playable on Steam Deck), Xbox on PC. Coming to Xbox Series X/S later this year Price: Usually $25, with a 10 percent discount on Steam until August 5. Also on PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate
